Big Cat groups proven local talent, notably in veteran soulman Malford Milligan and guitarist Dave Sebree. Given the pairing, Big Cat should’ve unleashed a feral feline instead of a rather tame house kitty. Clocking in at close to an hour, the quintet churns out blues ballads that proclaim, “Nothing new here.” Even so, “From Now On” doubles as a Stevie Ray Vaughan B-side, while “Trippin’,” “Thief of Hearts,” and “Ain’t That Sexy” could make up a perfect KLBJ rock block. “Onward” and “Any Day Like Yesterday” recall plaintive R&B burners. The album boasts some of the principals’ best work as Milligan’s vocals ricochet between soulful croons and embellished vibrato runs, while Sebree’s guitar echoes the greats from Robin Trower to Muddy Waters. The talent’s there, but their growl falls short.

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This article appears in December 4 • 2015.

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